Preformed flower pot cover having a finish simulating the appearance of cloth

ABSTRACT

Flexible polymeric materials having a cloth-like appearance suitable for use in the formation of flower pot covers, floral wrappings and ribbon materials are disclosed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisionalapplication U.S. Serial No. 60/050,867, filed Jun. 26, 1997.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention relates to polymeric materials having acloth-like appearance, and more particularly but not by way oflimitation, to flower pot covers, floral wrappings and ribbon materialsmade from such polymeric materials. In one aspect, the present inventionrelates to methods for producing flower pot covers and methods ofwrapping floral groupings and flower pots with a sheet of polymericmaterial having a cloth-like appearance to provide a decorative coverfor such floral groupings and flower ID pots.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sheet of polymeric materialhaving a cloth-like appearance constructed in accordance with thepresent invention.

[0005]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sheet of polymeric materialhaving a cloth-like appearance of FIG. 1 having a bonding materialdisposed along one edge thereof.

[0006]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the sheet of polymeric materialhaving a cloth-like appearance of FIG. 2 having a floral groupingdisposed thereon.

[0007]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the floral grouping of FIG. 3being wrapped with the sheet of material of having a cloth-likeappearance of FIG. 2 by one method of wrapping.

[0008]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a decorative cover for the floralgrouping formed from the sheet of polymeric material of FIG. 2 whereinthe decorative cover formed from the sheet of material has a conicalconfiguration.

[0009]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a decorative cover formed from asheet of polymeric material of FIG. 2 wherein a floral grouping iswrapped with the sheet of polymeric material having a cloth-likeappearance by a second method of wrapping so that the decorative coverformed from the sheet of polymeric material having a cloth-likeappearance has a substantially cylindrical configuration.

[0010]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a decorative cover positionedabout a flower pot wherein the decorative cover is formed from a sheetof the polymeric material having a cloth-like appearance of FIG. 1.

[0011]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a flower pot cover former andband applicator apparatus having a sheet of the polymeric materialhaving a cloth-like appearance of FIG. 1 disposed above an opening ofthe flower pot cover former and band applicator and having a flower potdisposed above the sheet of polymeric material having a cloth-likeappearance.

[0012]FIG. 9A is a perspective view of a sheet of expanded corepolymeric film having a cloth-like appearance wherein an acrylic heatsealable lacquer is disposed on at least one surface thereof.

[0013]FIG. 9B is a perspective view of a laminated sheet of materialhaving a cloth-like appearance wherein the laminated sheet of materialcomprises a sheet of expanded core polymeric film having a sheet ofwater impervious polymeric film laminated thereto.

[0014]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a preformed pot cover formed froma sheet of the expanded core polymeric film of FIG. 9A, or a laminatedsheet of material of FIG. 9B, or a sheet of the polymeric materialhaving a cloth-like appearance similar to the polymeric material of FIG.1.

[0015]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the preformed pot cover of FIG.10 having a flower pot disposed therein.

[0016]FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic, cross-sectional view of a male andfemale mold having a sheet of the expanded core polymeric film of FIG.9A disposed therebetween for forming the preformed pot cover of FIG. 10.

[0017]FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a floral sleeve formed from asheet of the polymeric material having a cloth-like appearance.

[0018]FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the floral sleeve of FIG. 13disposed about a floral grouping.

[0019]FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a floral sleeve having a cinchingmember wherein the floral sleeve is formed from a sheet of polymericmaterial having a cloth-like appearance.

[0020]FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the floral sleeve of FIG. 15disposed about a floral grouping.

[0021]FIG. 17 is a side view of a sleeve having a detachable portionwherein the sleeve is formed from a sheet of polymeric material having acloth-like appearance.

[0022]FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the sleeve of FIG. 17 having aflower pot disposed therein.

[0023]FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a flower pot disposed in thesleeve of FIG. 17 wherein an upper portion of the sleeve has beenremoved to provide a decorative cover having a skirt.

[0024]FIG. 20A is a perspective view of a polymeric ribbon materialhaving a cloth-like appearance.

[0025]FIG. 20B is a perspective view of a polymeric ribbon materialformed of an expanded core polymeric film having an acrylic lacquer onat least one surface thereof.

[0026]FIG. 20C is a perspective view of a laminated polymeric ribbonwherein one layer of the laminate is an expanded core polymeric film.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Description of FIGS. 1-9

[0027] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, designated generally by thereference numeral 10 is a sheet of polymeric material having acloth-like finish or appearance. That is, at least one surface of thesheet of polymeric material 10 has been modified to provide a matte ortextured finish simulating the appearance of cloth. The modification ofthe sheet of polymeric material 10 to provide the sheet of polymericmaterial with a matte or textured finish can be accomplished in severalways. For example, a matte finish can be provided by printing a desiredpattern on the sheet of polymeric material and thereafter laminating amatte material, such as a translucent polymeric film over the printedpattern. To further enhance the cloth-like appearance of the sheet ofpolymeric material 10, the matte material may or may not have aplurality of spatially disposed holes extending therethrough. A matte ortextured finish can also be produced by printing a sheet of polymericmaterial with a matteed (i.e. dull finish) ink, by lacquering at leastone surface of the sheet of polymeric material with a dull finishlacquer or a matteing lacquer, by embossing the sheet of polymericmaterial to provide an embossed pattern simulating the weave or textureof cloth, or by embossing and printing the sheet of polymeric materialto provide embossed and printed patterns wherein the embossed andprinted patterns may be in registry, out of registry or wherein aportion of the embossed and printed patterns are in registry and aportion of the embossed and printed patterns are out of registry. Inaddition, a matte or textured finish capable a providing the sheet ofpolymeric material with a cloth-like appearance can be achieved byextruding a polymeric resin onto a matteed or textured chill roll or bylaminating a second sheet of material to the sheet of polymericmaterial.

[0028] The sheet of polymeric material 10 having a cloth-like appearancehas an upper surface 14, a lower surface 16, and an outer peripheraledge 18. The lower surface 16 is matted or textured as described aboveto provide the sheet of polymeric material with a cloth-like appearance.The outer peripheral edge 18 of the sheet of polymeric material 10comprises a first side 20, a second side 22, a third side 24, and afourth side 26. A bonding material 27 (FIG. 2) may be disposed on atleast a portion of one or both surfaces of the sheet of material 10,such as the upper surface 14 thereof as shown and as further illustratedin U.S. Pat. No. 5,181,364, the specification of which is herebyexpressly incorporated herein by reference.

[0029] The sheet of polymeric material 10 having a cloth-like appearancemay be employed to provide a decorative cover for a floral grouping(FIGS. 3 and 6) or a decorative cover for a flower pot (FIG. 7); or itmay be employed to form a preformed flower pot cover for covering aflower pot (FIGS. 10 and 11); or it may be employed to provide a sleevefor wrapping or covering a floral grouping (FIGS. 14 and 16) or a flowerpot (FIGS. 18 and 19); or it may be employed to provide a ribbonmaterial having a cloth-like appearance (FIG. 20A). The use of the sheetof polymeric material 10 having a cloth-like appearance to form adecorative cover for a floral grouping or a flower pot, or to form asleeve for a floral grouping or a flower pot, or to form a preformedflower pot cover, or as a ribbon material will be described in morecomplete detail herein.

[0030] As noted above, the sheet of polymeric material 10 having acloth-like appearance can be utilized to form a decorative cover for afloral grouping or a flower pot. The term “flower pot” as used hereinrefers to any type of container for holding a floral grouping, or aplant, or even another pot type container. Examples of flower potsand/or pot type containers include, but are not limited to, clay pots,wooden pots, plastic pots, pots made from natural and/or syntheticfibers, or any combination thereof. Such flower pots and or pot-typecontainers are provided with a retaining space for receiving a floralgrouping. The floral grouping may be disposed within the retaining spaceof the flower pot with a suitable growing medium described in furtherdetail below, or other retaining medium, such as a floral foam. It willalso be understood that in some cases the floral grouping, and anyappropriate growing medium or other retaining medium, may be disposed ina sleeve formed from the sheet of material 10 if the sleeve is adaptedto contain a medium.

[0031] “Floral grouping” as used herein means cut fresh flowers,artificial flowers, a single flower or other fresh and/or artificialplants or other floral materials and may include other secondary plantsand/or ornamentation or artificial or natural materials which add to theaesthetics of the overall floral grouping. Further, the floral groupingmay comprise a growing potted plant having a root portion as well.However, it will be appreciated that the floral grouping may consist ofonly a single bloom or only foliage, or a botanical item (not shown), ora propagule. The term “floral grouping” may be used interchangeablyherein with the term “floral arrangement”. The term “floral grouping”may also be used interchangeably herein with the terms “botanical item”and/or “propagule.”

[0032] The term “growing medium” when used herein means any liquid,solid or gaseous material used for plant growth or for the cultivationof propagules, including organic and inorganic materials such as soil,humus, perlite, vermiculite, sand, water, and including the nutrients,fertilizers or hormones or combinations thereof required by the plantsor propagules for growth.

[0033] The term “botanical item” when used herein means a natural orartificial herbaceous or woody plant, taken singularly or incombination. The term “botanical item” also means any portion orportions of natural or artificial herbaceous or woody plants includingstems, leaves, flowers, blossoms, buds, blooms, cones, or roots, takensingly or in combination, or in groupings of such portions such asbouquets or floral groupings.

[0034] The term “propagule” when used herein means any structure capableof being propagated or acting as an agent of reproduction includingseeds, shoots, stems, runners, tubers, plants, leaves, roots or spores.

[0035] In the embodiments shown in the drawings, the sheet of polymericmaterial 10 having a cloth-like appearance is square. It will beappreciated, however, that the sheet of polymeric material 10 having acloth-like appearance can be of any shape, configuration or size as longas the sheet of polymeric material 10 is sufficiently sized and shapedto wrap and encompass a floral grouping or a flower pot. For example,the sheet of polymeric material 10 may have a rectangular, round, oval,octagonal or asymmetrical shape. Further, multiple sheets of thepolymeric material 10 may be used in a single circumstance to provide adecorative cover or sleeve for a floral grouping or a flower pot.Moreover, when multiple sheets of the polymeric material 10 having acloth-like appearance are used in combination, the sheets of polymericmaterial 10 need not be uniform in size or shape. Finally, it will beappreciated that the sheet of polymeric material 10 having a cloth-likeappearance shown herein is a substantially flat sheet except for thetexturing, matting, embossing, flocking, application of a foamablelacquer or foamable ink, or other treatments and techniques employed toprovide the sheet of polymeric material 10 with the desired texture ormatting so that the sheet of polymeric material 10 has the appearance ofcloth.

[0036] Any thickness or stiffness of the sheet of polymeric material 10may be utilized in accordance with the present invention as long as thesheet of material 10 can be modified to provide the sheet of polymericmaterial with a cloth-like appearance and the sheet of material 10having a cloth-like appearance can be wrapped about at least a portionof a floral grouping or a flower pot, as described herein. Generally,the sheet of polymeric material 10 will have a thickness of from about0.1 mil to about 30 mils, and more desirably a thickness of from about0.5 mils to about 2.5 mils.

[0037] The terms “polymer film”, “polymeric film” and “polymericmaterial” when used herein means a synthetic polymer such as apolypropylene, a naturally occurring polymer such as cellophane, anextruded polymeric material having an expanded core such as extrudedpolypropylene having an expanded core and combinations thereof,including but not limited to, laminated materials. The extrudedpolymeric material having an expanded core (which is sometimes referredto herein as an expanded core polymeric material) will generally have athickness in the range of from about 0.6 mil to about 10 mils, moredesirably in the range of from about 0.6 mil to about 1.25 mils.“Extruded polymeric material having an expanded core” as used hereinmeans any extrudable polymeric material in which the core is expandedduring extrusion, such as by incorporation of a blowing agent in thepolymeric resin which is being extruded.

[0038] The sheet of material 10 may also be constructed, in whole or inpart, from a cling material. “Cling material” when used herein means anymaterial which is capable of connecting to the sheet of material and/oritself upon contacting engagement during the wrapping process and iswrappable about an item whereby portions of the cling materialcontactingly engage and connect to other portions of another material,or, alternatively, itself, for generally securing the material wrappedabout at least a portion of a flower pot. This connecting engagement ispreferably temporary in that the material may be easily removed, i.e.,the cling material “clings” to the flower pot.

[0039] The cling material is constructed and treated if necessary, frompolyethylene such as Cling Wrap made by Glad®, First Brands Corporation,Danbury, Conn. The thickness of the cling material will, in part, dependupon the size of sleeve and the size of the flower pot in the sleeve,i.e., generally, a larger flower pot may require a thicker and thereforestronger cling material. The cling material will range in thickness fromabout 0.1 mils to about 10 mils, and preferably from about 0.5 mils toabout 2.5 mils and most preferably from about 0.6 mils to about 2 mils.However, any thickness of cling material may be utilized in accordancewith the present invention which permits the cling material to bemodified as hereinbefore described to provide the cling material with acloth-like appearance.

[0040] In one embodiment, a sleeve may be constructed from two sheets ofpolypropylene film wherein at least a lower or outer surface of one ofthe sheets of polypropylene film is modified as hereinbefore describedto provide at least one of the sheets of polypropylene film with acloth-like appearance. The sheets of polypropylene film employed toproduce the sleeve may be connected together or laminated or may beseparate layers. In an alternative embodiment, the sleeve may beconstructed from only one sheet of polypropylene film having acloth-like appearance.

[0041] The sheet of polymeric material 10 having a cloth-like appearancemay vary in color. Further, the sheet of polymeric material 10 maycomprise other decorative patterns or designs in addition to thematting, texturing, flocking, application of flammable lacquers orfoamable inks, or embossing employed to impart the cloth-like appearanceto the sheet of polymeric material 10.

[0042] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the sheet of polymeric material 10 hasa width 30 extending generally between the first side 20 and the secondside 22, respectively, sufficiently sized whereby the sheet of polymericmaterial 10 can be wrapped about and encompass a floral grouping or aflower pot. The sheet of polymeric material 10 has a length 32 extendinggenerally between the third side 24 and the fourth side 26,respectively, sufficiently sized whereby the sheet of polymeric material10 extends over a substantial portion of the floral grouping when thesheet of polymeric material 10 has been wrapped about the floralgrouping in accordance with the present invention, as described indetail herein. The sheet of polymeric material 10 may also be wrappedabout a flower pot to substantially wrap and cover the flower pot inaccordance with the present invention.

[0043] A plurality of sheets of polymeric material 10 having acloth-like appearance may be connected together to form a roll as isshown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,459,976, issued Oct. 24, 1995, entitled“MATERIAL AND ADHESIVE STRIP DISPENSER”, the specification of which ishereby expressly incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.

[0044] FIGS. 3-5 illustrate the use of the sheet of polymeric material10 having a cloth-like appearance in wrapping a floral grouping 34 toprovide a decorative cover 36 (FIG. 5) for the floral grouping 34. Thesheet of polymeric material 10 may optionally have the strip of bondingmaterial 27 disposed upon the upper surface 14, the lower surface 16 orboth, such as the strip of bonding material 27 disposed along at least aportion of the upper surface 14 of the sheet of polymeric material 10 soas to be disposed substantially adjacent the fourth side 26 thereofsubstantially as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Further, the sheet of polymericmaterial 10 having a cloth-like appearance can be provided either as anindividual sheet or from a pad or roll of material.

[0045] The bonding material 27, if present, may have a backing orrelease strip (not shown). The backing or release strip may be leftapplied for a period of time to the bonding material 27 after it isdisposed on a surface of the sheet of polymeric material 10 prior to itsuse as a wrapping material, to protect the bonding qualities of thebonding strip. In operation, an operator may dispose the sheet ofpolymeric material 10 having a cloth-like appearance on a supportsurface (not shown); the lower surface 16 of the sheet of polymericmaterial 10 (which has been modified to provide the sheet of polymericmaterial 10 with a cloth-like appearance), contacting the supportsurface.

[0046] Referring more specifically to FIGS. 3-5, the floral grouping 34is placed upon the upper surface 14 of the sheet of material 10 in adiagonal orientation. The floral grouping 34 has an upper bloom orfoliage portion 42 and a lower stem portion 44. The sheet of polymericmaterial 10 is then wrapped about the floral grouping 34 by the operator(FIGS. 4 and 5), the operator overlapping a portion of the sheet ofpolymeric material 10 over another portion of the sheet of polymericmaterial 10. That is, for example, the operator places the first side 20of the sheet of polymeric material 10 over the floral grouping 34, asshown in FIG. 4. The operator continues to roll the floral grouping 34and the sheet of polymeric material 10 in the direction toward thesecond side 22 of the sheet of polymeric material 10 until the uppersurface 14 near second side 22 firmly engages the lower surface 16 ofthe sheet of polymeric material 10, wherein the floral grouping 34 issubstantially encompassed by the sheet of polymeric material 10, andwherein the bonding material 27 contacts the sheet of polymeric material10 to provide the decorative cover 36 having a cloth-like appearancewhich substantially encompasses and surrounds a substantial portion ofthe floral grouping 34. FIG. 5 shows the floral grouping 34 wrapped in aconical fashion to provide the decorative cover 36 for the floralgrouping 34 which has the appearance of being made of a cloth material.When the floral grouping 34 is wrapped in a conical fashion, the bloomend 42 of the floral grouping 34 is exposed near the open upper end ofthe decorative cover 36 and the stem end 44 exposed near the lower endof the decorative cover 36.

[0047] In another embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 6, the sheet ofpolymeric material 10 having a cloth-like appearance is utilized to wrapthe floral grouping 34 in a cylindrical fashion. The floral grouping 34is disposed upon the sheet of polymeric material 10 approximatelyparallel to side 24 of the sheet of polymeric material 10. The sheet ofpolymeric material 10 is wrapped generally about the stem portion 44 ofthe floral grouping 34 to a position wherein the third side 24 of thesheet of polymeric material 10 generally overlaps the fourth side 26 ofthe sheet of polymeric material 10 in a cylindrical fashion. It shouldbe noted that the sheet of polymeric material 10 may be wrapped aplurality of times about the stem portion 44 of the floral grouping 34before the overlapping of the third side 24 and the fourth side 26 ofthe sheet of material 10. As before, the portion of the sheet ofmaterial 10 near the third side 26 is disposed generally adjacentanother portion of the sheet of material 10 and the two adjacentportions then are brought into contact where they may be bondinglyengaged, thereby securing the sheet of polymeric material 10 generallyabout the floral grouping 34 so as to provide a decorative cover 36 afor the floral grouping 34 which has the appearance of being fabricatedof cloth.

[0048] In another version of the invention, the sheet of polymericmaterial 10 having a cloth-like appearance may be used to wrap a flowerpot or pot-type container, as noted above. Shown in FIG. 7 is a flowerpot designated by the reference numeral 50 having an open upper end 52,a bottom end 54, an outer peripheral surface 56, an inner retainingspace 58 within which may be disposed a growing medium. The flower pot50 may contain a botanical item, such as a plant 60, which has an upperportion 62 comprising blooms or foliage or both.

[0049] The sheet of polymeric material 10 having a cloth-like appearancemay be wrapped about the flower pot 50 by any one of numerous methodsused to wrap sheets of material about flower pots to form decorative potcovers for flower pots, such as a decorative cover 61 having acloth-like appearance disposed about the flower pot 50 illustrated inFIG. 7. The sheet of polymeric material 10 may, for example, be formedby hand about the outer peripheral surface 56 of the flower pot 50 toproduce the decorative cover 61 which has the appearance of beingfabricated of cloth. The decorative cover 61 can then be secured aboutthe flower pot 50 by a bonding means or by an elastic band 64 such thatthe open upper end 52 of the flower pot 50 remains substantiallyuncovered by the decorative cover 61 substantially as shown in FIG. 7.

[0050] Referring now to FIG. 8, a flower pot cover former and bandapplicator apparatus 66 for forming the sheet of polymeric material 10having a cloth-like appearance into the decorative cover 61 for theflower pot 50 of FIG. 7 is illustrated. The flower pot cover former andband applicator device 66 comprises a band applicator 68 and a flowerpot cover former 70. The flower pot cover former and band applicatordevice 66 has a support platform 72 with an opening 74 formed therein. Aband, such as elastic band 64, is disposed circumferentially about theopening 74 in the support platform 72.

[0051] The lower surface 16 of the sheet of polymeric material 10 (whichhas been modified to provide the sheet of polymeric material 10 with atextured or matted surface simulating cloth) is positioned on an uppersurface 76 on the support platform 72 such that the sheet of polymericmaterial 10 is positioned over the opening 74 in the support platform72. The flower pot 50 is positioned above the sheet of polymericmaterial 10 and is moved in a direction 78 into the opening 74 of theflower pot cover former and band applicator device 66. As the flower pot50 is moved into the opening 74, the sheet of polymeric material 10 ispressed about the outer peripheral surface 56 of the flower pot 50thereby forming the decorative cover 61 about the flower pot 50. Thedecorative cover 61 (which has a cloth-like appearance) is then securedabout the flower pot 50 by the elastic band 64. The flower pot 50 havingthe decorative cover 61 secured thereto is then moved in a direction 80out of the opening 74 in the support platform 72.

[0052] The elastic band 64 can be applied manually or automatically suchas by the method shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,599 which is herebyincorporated herein by reference. The band 64 can also be applied as atie using a method such as described in “Single Station Covering andFastening System”, U.S. Pat. No. 5,609,009, the specification of whichis hereby incorporated herein by reference. The sheet of polymericmaterial 10 having a cloth-like appearance can also be appliedautomatically about the pot 60, for example, by methods shown in U.S.Pat. Nos. 4,733,521 and 5,291,721, both of which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference.

[0053] Instead of securing the decorative cover 61 about the flower pot50 via the band 64, the decorative cover 61 formed from the sheet ofpolymeric material 10 having a cloth-like appearance may be secured tothe flower pot 50 by the use of one or more bonding materials. Forexample, the upper surface 14 of the sheet of polymeric material 10 mayhave a bonding material such as bonding material 27 disposed upon aportion thereof. When the sheet of polymeric material 10 is disposedabout the flower pot 50, at least a portion of the upper surface 14 ofthe sheet of polymeric material 10 contacts the outer peripheral surface56 of the flower pot 50 and is thereby bonded and held about the flowerpot 50 via the bonding material.

[0054] The bonding material may cover a portion of the upper surface 14of the sheet of polymeric material 10 or the bonding material mayentirely cover the upper surface 14 of the sheet of polymeric material10. The bonding material may be disposed on the upper surface 14 of thesheet of polymeric material 10 in the form of a strip or in the form ofspaced-apart spots. One method for disposing a bonding material on thesheet of polymeric material 10 is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,637,entitled “Method For Wrapping A Floral Grouping”, issued to Weder, etal. on May 12, 1992, which is expressly incorporated herein byreference.

[0055] The term “bonding material” or “bonding means” when used hereincan mean an adhesive, frequently a pressure sensitive adhesive, or acohesive or any adhesive/cohesive combination, having adhesive qualities(i.e., qualities of adhesion or adhesion/cohesion, respectively)sufficient to cause the attachment of a portion of the sheet ofpolymeric material 10 to itself, to a floral grouping, or to a flowerpot. Since the bonding material may comprise either an adhesive or anadhesive/cohesive combination, it will be appreciated that bothadhesives and cohesives are known in the art, and both are commerciallyavailable. When the bonding material is a cohesive, a similar cohesivematerial must be placed on the adjacent surface for bondingly contactingand bondingly engaging with the cohesive material. The term “bondingmaterial or bonding means” also includes materials which are heatsealable and, in this instance, the adjacent portions of the materialmust be brought into contact and then heat must be applied to effect theseal. The term “bonding material or bonding means” also includesmaterials which are sonically sealable and vibratory sealable. The term“bonding material or bonding means” when used herein also means a heatsealing lacquer or hot melt material which may be applied to thematerial and, in this instance, heat, sound waves, or vibrations, alsomust be applied to effect the sealing.

[0056] The term “bonding material or bonding means” when used hereinalso means any type of material or thing which can be used to effect thebonding or connecting of the two adjacent portions of the sheet ofpolymeric material 10 to effect the connection or bonding describedherein. The term “bonding material or bonding means” may also includeties, labels, bands, ribbons, strings, tapes (including single ordouble-sided adhesive tapes), staples or combinations thereof. Some ofthe bonding materials would secure the ends of the material while otherbonding material may bind the circumference of a wrapper, or a sleeve,or, alternatively and/or in addition, the bonding materials would secureoverlapping folds in the material and/or sleeve. Another way to securethe wrapping and/or sleeve is to heat seal the ends of the material toanother portion of the material. One way to do this is to contact theends with an iron of sufficient heat to heat seal the material.

[0057] Alternatively, a cold seal adhesive may be utilized as thebonding material or means. The cold seal adhesive adheres only to asimilar substrate, acting similarly as a cohesive, and binds only toitself. The cold seal adhesive, since it bonds only to a s similarsubstrate, does not cause a residue to build up on equipment, therebyboth permitting much more rapid disposition and use of such equipment toform articles and reducing labor costs. Further, since no heat isrequired to effect the seal, the dwell time, that is, the time for thesheet of material to form and retain the shape of an article, such as aflower pot cover or flower pot, is reduced. A cold seal adhesive bindsquickly and easily with minimal pressure, and such a seal is not readilyreleasable. This characteristic is different from, for example, apressure sensitive adhesive.

[0058] The term “bonding material or bonding means” when used hereinalso means any heat or chemically shrinkable material, and staticelectrical or other electrical means, chemical welding means, magneticmeans, mechanical or barb-type fastening means or clamps, curl-typecharacteristics of the film or materials incorporated in material whichcan cause the material to take on certain shapes, cling films, slots,grooves, shrinkable materials and bands, curl materials, springs, andany type of welding method which may weld portions of the material toitself or to the pot, or to both the material itself and the pot.

Description of FIGS. 9-12

[0059] Referring now to FIGS. 10 and 11, a decorative preformed flowerpot cover 110 is illustrated constructed from a sheet of flexiblematerial 112 having a cloth-like appearance (FIG. 9A) or a flexiblelaminated sheet of material 112 a (FIG. 9B). It should be understoodthat a sheet of material similar to the sheet of material 10 having acloth-like appearance hereinbefore described can also be employed toform the decorative preformed pot cover 110. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 9A, the sheet of flexible material 112 used in the construction ofthe preformed flower pot cover 110 comprises a sheet of expanded corepolymeric material 114 having an upper surface 116, a lower surface 118and a thickness in the range of from about 0.6 to about 10 mils, moredesirably in the range of from about 0.6 to about 1.25 mils, and acoating of an acrylic heat sealable lacquer 120 disposed on at least oneof the upper and lower surfaces 116 and 118, respectively, of theexpanded core polymeric film 114. While the decorative preformed flowerpot cover 110 is shown as being formed of the sheet of flexible material112 having a matte or textured finish simulating the appearance ofcloth, it should be understood that the decorative preformed flower potcover 110 can also be formed from a sheet of flexible materialcomprising an expanded core polymeric film having an acrylic heatsealable lacquer disposed on at least one surface thereof wherein thesurface of the expanded core polymeric film 114 is not modified toprovided a cloth-like appearance.

[0060] As previously stated, the modification of the expanded corepolymeric film 114 to provide the sheet of flexible material with thedesired matte or textured finish can be accomplished by printing adesired pattern on the sheet of expanded core polymeric material andthereafter laminating a matte material, such as a translucent polymericfilm over the printed pattern. To further enhance the cloth-likeappearance, the matte material may or may not have a plurality ofspatially disposed holes extending therethrough. A matte or texturedfinish can also be produced by printing a sheet of expanded corepolymeric material with a matted (i.e. dull finish) ink, by lacqueringat least one surface of the sheet of expanded core polymeric materialwith a dull finish lacquer or a matting lacquer, by embossing the sheetof expanded core polymeric material to provide an embossed patternsimulating the weave or texture of cloth, or by embossing and printingthe sheet of expanded core polymeric material to provide embossed andprinted patterns wherein the embossed and printed patterns may be inregistry, out of registry or wherein a portion of the embossed andprinted patterns are in registry and a portion of the embossed andprinted patterns are out of registry. In addition, a matte or texturedfinish capable a providing the sheet of flexible polymeric material witha cloth-like appearance can be achieved by extruding a polymeric resinonto a matted or textured chill roll to produce the expanded corepolymeric material or by laminating a second sheet of material to thesheet of expanded core polymeric material.

[0061] When the sheet of flexible material 112 is formed into thepreformed flower pot cover 110, a plurality of overlapping folds 122 areformed and at least a portion of the overlapping folds 122 are connectedto adjacently disposed portions of the preformed flower pot cover 110via the acrylic heat sealable lacquer 120.

[0062] As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the decorative preformed pot cover122 has an upper end 125, a lower end 126, and an outer peripheralsurface 128. An opening 130 intersects the upper end 125, forming aninner peripheral surface 132 which defines and encompasses a retainingspace within which a flower pot 134 containing a floral grouping 136 maybe disposed in a manner well known in the art.

[0063] In another embodiment, a sheet of flexible material 112 a (FIG.9B) is used in the construction of the preformed flower pot cover 110.The sheet of flexible material 112 a is a laminated material whichcomprises an expanded core polymeric film 114 a having an upper surface116 a, a lower surface 118 a and a substantially water imperviouspolymeric film 120 a. At least one surface of the expanded corepolymeric film 114 a or substantially water impervious polymeric film120 a is modified to provide the sheet of flexible material 112 a withthe desired cloth-like appearance. It should be understood that thedecorative preformed flower pot cover 110 can also be formed from alaminated sheet of flexible material comprising an expanded corepolymeric film and a substantially water impervious polymeric filmwherein neither the expanded core polymeric film nor the substantiallywater impervious polymeric film 120 a is modified to provide thelaminated sheet of flexible material 112 a with the desired cloth-likeappearance.

[0064] The expanded core polymeric film 114 a desirably has a thicknessof from about 0.6 to about 10 mils, and more desirably from about 0.6 toabout 1.25 mils, and the substantially water impervious polymeric film120 a desirably has a thickness of from about 0.6 to about 10 mils. Thesubstantially water impervious polymeric film 120 a is desirablylaminated to the expanded core polymeric material 112 a with a coloredadhesive so as to impart a desired color to the sheet of flexiblematerial 112 a. While the thickness of the sheet of flexible material112 a can vary widely and will generally depend on the thickness of theexpanded core polymeric film 114 and the thickness of the substantiallywater impervious polymeric film 120 a, desirable results can be obtainedwhere the sheet of flexible material 112 a has a thickness in the rangeof from about 1.5 to about 2.5 mils.

[0065] As previously stated, the preformed flower pot cover 110 may beconstructed of a sheet of the flexible material 112 (FIG. 9A), or from asheet of the flexible material 112 a (FIG. 9B), or from a sheet ofmaterial 10 (FIG. 1); and the preformed flower pot cover 110 so formedwill have a plurality of overlapping folds formed therein, at least aportion thereof being connected. If desired, the preformed flower potcover 110 can be formed of a plurality of sheets of the same and/ordifferent types of material.

[0066] The method and apparatus employed to form the preformed flowerpot cover is substantially identical whether one uses one or more sheetsof the flexible material 112 (FIG. 9A), or one or more sheets of theflexible material 112 a (FIG. 9B), or one or more sheets of material 10(FIG. 1) or a combination of such sheets of material. Thus, only theformation of the preformed flower pot cover 110 using a sheet of theflexible material 112 of FIG. 9 will be described in detail hereinafter.

[0067] The decorative preformed flower pot cover 122 may be formed usinga conventional mold system 140 comprising a male mold 142 and a femalemold 144 having a mold cavity 146 for matingly receiving the male mold142 (FIG. 12). The sheet of flexible material 112 is positioned betweenthe male and female molds 142 and 144, respectively. Movement of themale mold 142 in the direction 148 and into the mold cavity 146 forcesthe sheet of flexible material 112 to be disposed about the portion ofthe male mold 142 disposed in the mold cavity 146 of the female mold 146and thereby forms the sheet of material 112 into the preformeddecorative flower pot cover 110 (FIGS. 10 and 11). Further, inaccordance with the present invention, the preformed flower pot cover110 constructed from the materials described herein above, may have abonding means or material disposed upon a portion thereof.

[0068] Methods for forming such preformed decorative pot covers are wellknown in the art. Two methods of forming such covers are described inU.S. Pat. Nos. 4,773,182 and 5,291,721, each of which is expresslyincorporated herein by reference.

Description of FIGS. 13-19

[0069] Shown in FIG. 13 is a decorative cover designated therein by thegeneral reference numeral 160 which comprises a flexible bag or sleeve162 of unitary construction having a cloth-like appearance in accordancewith the present invention. The sleeve 162 may be used as a decorativecover for a floral grouping or a flower pot. The sleeve 162 initiallycomprises a flexible flat collapsed piece of material which is openablein the form of a tube or sleeve. Such sleeves are well known in thefloral industry. Further, in accordance with the present invention, atleast a portion of one surface, preferably an outer peripheral surface164 of the sleeve 162, has been modified to provide with sleeve 162 witha cloth-like appearance, as previously described herein. The sleeve 162has an upper end 166, a lower end 168 and the outer peripheral surface164. The sleeve 162 may be tapered outwardly from the lower end 168toward a larger diameter at its upper end 166. In its flattened statethe sleeve 162 generally has an overall trapezoidal or modifiedtrapezoidal shape, and when opened is substantially frusto-conical toconiform. It will be appreciated, however, that the sleeve 162 maycomprise variations on the aforementioned shapes or may comprisesignificantly altered shapes such as square or rectangular, wherein thesleeve 162 when opened has a cylindrical form, as long as the sleeve 162functions in accordance with the present invention in the mannerdescribed herein. The sleeve 162 (or any other sleeve disclosed herein)may have an angular or contoured shape.

[0070] The sleeve 162 has an opening 170 at the upper end 166 and may beopen at the lower end 168, or closed with a bottom at the lower end 168.The sleeve 162 also has an inner peripheral surface 172 which, when thesleeve 162 is opened, defines and encompasses an inner retaining space174. When the lower end 168 of the sleeve 162 has a closed lower end168, a portion of the lower end 168 may be inwardly folded to form oneor more gussets (not shown) for allowing the lower portion of the innerretaining space 174 to be expandable, for example, for receiving thecircular bottom of a pot or growing medium.

[0071] The sleeve 162 is generally frusto-conically shaped, but thesleeve 162 may be, by way of example but not by way of limitation,cylindrical, frusto-conical, a combination of both frusto-conical andcylindrical, or any other shape, as long as the sleeve 162 functions asdescribed herein as noted above. Further, the sleeve 162 may compriseany shape, whether geometric, non-geometric, asymmetrical and/orfanciful as long as it functions in accordance with the presentinvention. The sleeve 162 may also be equipped with drain holes (ifhaving a closed bottom) or side ventilation holes (not shown), or can bemade from gas permeable or impermeable materials.

[0072] The material from which the sleeve 162 is constructed is the sameas previously described above for the sheet of polymeric material 10having a cloth-like appearance, or the sheet of flexible material 112 or112 a. Any thickness of material may be utilized in accordance with thepresent invention as long as the sleeve 162 may be formed as describedherein, is provided with a cloth-like appearance, and as long as theformed sleeve 162 may contain at least a portion of a flower pot or afloral grouping, as described herein. Additionally, an insulatingmaterial such as bubble film, preferable as one of two or more layers,can be utilized in order to provide additional protection for the item,such as a floral grouping, contained therein.

[0073] In FIG. 14 the sleeve 162 is illustrated having a cloth likeappearance provided on the outer peripheral surface 184 of the sleeve162. A floral grouping 176 is disposed within the inner retaining space174 of the sleeve 162. Generally, an upper or bloom portion 178 of thefloral grouping 176 is exposed near the opening 170 of the sleeve 162and a lower or stem portion 180 of the floral grouping 176 is exposednear the lower end 168 of the sleeve 162. Either end of the sleeve 162may be closed about the floral grouping 176. Generally, a portion of thesleeve 162 is tightened about a portion of the stem portion 180 of thefloral grouping 176 for holding the decorative cover 160 about thefloral grouping 176. For example, the sleeve 162 may be held by a tie182 tied about the sleeve 162 such as is shown in FIG. 14. Other meansfor binding the sleeve 162 may be employed such as the bonding means andmaterials described elsewhere herein. For example, as shown in FIG. 15,a decorative cover 160 a is shown which comprises a sleeve 162 a havinga cloth-like appearance and a cinching tab 184 having a bonding material186 disposed upon a surface thereof. The cinching tab 184 can be used togather portions of the sleeve 162 a together about the stem portion 180of the floral grouping 176 as shown in FIG. 16 for holding the sleeve162 a tightly about the floral grouping 176.

[0074] Similarly, it may generally be desired to use the sleeve 162 as adecorative cover for a flower pot (not shown). The flower pot willgenerally contain a botanical item or plant. The flower pot can bedeposited into the open sleeve 162 in a manner well known in the art,such as manually wherein the sleeve 162 is opened by hand and the flowerpot deposited therein.

[0075] As noted above, a bonding material may be disposed on a portionof the sleeve 162 or any sleeve described herein to assist in holdingthe sleeve 162 to the flower pot when the flower pot is disposed withinthe sleeve 162 or to assist in closing the upper end 166 of the sleeve162 or adhering the sleeve 162 to the flower pot after the flower pothas been disposed therein, as will be discussed in further detail below.

[0076] It will be understood that the bonding material, if present, maybe disposed as a strip or block on a surface of the sleeve 62. Thebonding material may also be disposed upon either the outer peripheralsurface 164 or the inner peripheral surface 162 of the sleeve 162, aswell as upon the flower pot. Further, the bonding material may bedisposed as spots of bonding material, or in any other geometric,non-geometric, asymmetric, or fanciful form, and in any patternincluding covering either the entire inner peripheral surface 172 and/orouter peripheral surface 164 of the sleeve 162 and/or the flower pot.The bonding material may be covered by a cover or release strip whichcan be removed prior to the use of the sleeve 162 or flower pot. Thebonding material can be applied by means known to those of ordinaryskill in their art. One method for disposing a bonding material, in thiscase an adhesive, is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,637, which ishereby incorporated herein by reference.

[0077] As noted above, a bonding material may be disposed on at least aportion of the inner peripheral surface 172 of the sleeve 162 (or anyother sleeve described herein), or, alternatively, the bonding materialmay be disposed on the outer peripheral surface of a flower potcontained within the sleeve 162, while the sleeve 162 may be free of thebonding material. In a further alternative, the bonding material may bedisposed both on at least a portion of the flower pot as well as upon atleast a portion of the inner peripheral surface 172 of the sleeve 162.In addition, a portion of the bonding material may also be disposed onthe outer peripheral surface 165 of the sleeve 162 as well. It will beunderstood that the bonding material may be disposed in a solid sectionof bonding material. The bonding material, when present, is disposed onthe sleeve 162 and/or flower pot by any means known in the art.

[0078] Certain versions of sleeves described herein may be used incombination with a preformed pot cover. For example, a preformed potcover may be applied to the pot, then the covered pot wrapped ordisposed within a sleeve. Either the cover or the sleeve, or both, mayhave a cloth-like appearance. Examples of sleeves which may be used inthis invention are shown in the specification of U.S. Ser. No.08/237,078 which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety. Equipment and devices for forming sleeves are commerciallyavailable, and well known in the art.

[0079] Shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 is another embodiment of a decorativecover 160 b comprising a sleeve having a cloth-like appearanceconstructed in accordance with the present invention and designated bythe general reference numeral 162 b. The sleeve 162 b has a “detaching”element in predetermined areas for detaching a portion of the sleeve 162b. The sleeve 162 b generally initially comprises a flexible flatcollapsed piece of material which is openable in the form of a tube orsleeve. The sleeve 162 b is constructed of the same material and in thesame way as described previously herein and may be described exactly thesame as the other sleeves described herein except for the additionalelements described hereinafter.

[0080] The sleeve 162 b has an upper end 166 b, a lower end 168 b, andan outer peripheral surface 164 b. The sleeve 162 b has an opening 170 bat the upper end 166 b thereof, and the sleeve 162 b may be open at thelower end 168 b or closed with a bottom at the lower end 168 b. In aflattened state, the sleeve 162 b has a first side 171 and a second side173. The sleeve 162 b also has an inner peripheral surface 172 b which,when the sleeve 162 b is opened, defines and encompasses an innerretaining space 174 b as shown in FIG. 18. When the lower end 168 b ofthe sleeve 162 b has a closed bottom, a portion of the lower end 168 bmay be inwardly folded to form one or more gussets (not shown) forpermitting a circular bottom of an object such as a potted plant 176 bto be disposed in the inner retaining space 174 b of the lower end 168 bof the sleeve 162 b.

[0081] As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the sleeve 162 b is demarcated intoan upper portion 188 and a lower portion 190. The lower portion 190 ofthe sleeve 162 b is generally sized to contain the flower pot 176 b. Theupper portion 188 of the sleeve 162 b is sized to substantially surroundand encompass a plant 192 contained in the flower pot 176 b disposedwithin the lower portion 190 of the sleeve 162 b. The sleeve 162 b isdemarcated into the upper portion 188 and the lower portion 190 by adetaching element 194 for enabling the detachment of the upper portion188 of the sleeve 162 b from the lower portion 190 of the sleeve 162 b.In the present version, the detaching element 194 is a plurality ofgenerally laterally-oriented or alternatingly diagonally-orientedperforations which extend circumferentially across the outer peripheralsurface 164 b of the sleeve 162 b from the first side 171 to the secondside 173.

[0082] In a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the lowerportion 190 of the sleeve 162 b further comprises a base portion 196 anda skirt portion 198. The base portion 196 comprises that part of thelower portion 190 which, when the flower pot 176 b is placed into thelower portion 190, has an inner peripheral surface which issubstantially adjacent to and surrounds the outer peripheral surface ofthe flower pot 176 b. The skirt portion 198 comprises that part of thelower portion 190 which extends beyond an open upper end of the flowerpot 176 b and adjacent at least a portion of the plant 192 containedwithin the flower pot 176 b and which is left to freely extend at anangle, inwardly or outwardly, from the base portion 196 when the upperportion 188 of the sleeve 162 b is detached from the lower portion 190of the sleeve 162 b by actuation of the detaching element 194.

[0083] In the intact sleeve 162 b, the skirt portion 198 comprises anupper peripheral edge congruent with the detaching element 194 which isconnected to a lower peripheral edge, also congruent with the detachingelement 194, of the upper portion 188 of the sleeve 162 b. In FIGS. 17and 18, the upper peripheral edge of the skirt portion 198 is congruentwith a series of alternatingly diagonally-oriented lines of perforationswhich together form a zig-zag and comprise the detaching element 194.The upper portion 188 of the sleeve 162 b may also have an additionaldetaching element 200 indicated as a plurality of vertical perforationsfor facilitating removal of the upper portion 188 and which are disposedmore or less vertically therein extending between the detaching element194 of the sleeve 162 b.

[0084] The upper portion 188 of the sleeve 162 b is thereby separablefrom the lower portion 190 of the sleeve 162 b by tearing the upperportion 188 along both the vertical perforations 200 and the detachingelement 194, thereby separating the upper portion 188 from the lowerportion 190 of the sleeve 162 b. The lower portion 190 of the sleeve 162b remains disposed as the base portion 196 about the flower pot 176 band as the skirt portion 198 about the plant 192 forming a decorativecover 202 as shown in FIG. 19 which substantially surrounds andencompasses the flower pot 176 b and the plant 192 contained therein. Anouter peripheral surface 124 of the lower portion 190 of the sleeve 162b, for example, the base and skirt portions 196 and 198, may be modifiedto provide the lower portion 190 of the sleeve 162 b with a cloth-likeappearance, while the upper portion 188 is left unmodified or is printedwith a design. When the upper portion 188 is detached, the lower portion190 of the sleeve 162 b remains about the flower pot 176 b and therebyforms a decorative cover about the flower pot 176 b which has theappearance of a cloth decorative cover.

[0085] “Detaching element” or “detaching means” as used herein, meansany element, or combination of elements, or features, such as, but notby way of limitation, perforations, tear strips, zippers, and any otherdevices or elements of this nature known in the art, or any combinationthereof. Therefore, while perforations are shown and described in detailherein, it will be understood that tear strips, zippers, or any other“detaching elements” known in the art, or any combination thereof, couldbe substituted therefor and/or used therewith.

[0086] In a general method of use of sleeves 162-162 b as a decorativecover for a flower pot, an operator provides a sleeve 162-162 b, and theflower pot 176 b having a plant 192 disposed in a growing mediumcontained within the flower pot 176 b. The operator then disposes theflower pot 176 b having the plant 192 contained therein into the sleeveby opening the sleeve at its first end and assuring both that theopening therein is in an open condition, and that the inner peripheralsurface of the sleeve is somewhat expanded outward as well, as shown inFIG. 18. The operator then manually or automatically disposes the flowerpot 176 b into the opening in the sleeve, the flower pot 17Gb beingdisposed generally through the upper portion of the sleeve intogenerally the lower portion of the sleeve, the flower pot 176 bremaining in the lower portion of the sleeve, permitting the sleeve tosubstantially surround and tightly encompass the pot. It will beunderstood that alternatively, the sleeve with an extension (not shown),may be utilized, the sleeve being disposed on rods, or wickets and theflower pot then being disposed in the sleeve either before or after thesleeve has been removed from the wickets.

Embodiments of FIGS. 20A-20C

[0087] Referring now to FIG. 20A, designated generally by the referencenumeral 210 is a polymeric ribbon material having a cloth-likeappearance for forming decorative bows and for wrapping items. That is,at least one surface of a web of polymeric material (not shown) ismodified to provide a matte or textured finish 212 simulating theappearance of cloth. The modification of the web of polymeric material(not shown) to provide the polymeric ribbon material 210 with a matte ortextured finish 212 can be accomplished in several ways. For example,the polymeric ribbon material 210 having the matte or textured finish212 can be produced by printing a web of polymeric material with amatted (i.e. dull finish) ink, by lacquering at least one surface of thesheet of polymeric material with a dull finish lacquer or a mattinglacquer, by embossing the sheet of polymeric material to provide anembossed pattern simulating the weave or texture of cloth, or byflocking the sheet of polymeric material, or by application of afoamable lacquer or foamable ink to the sheet of polymeric material, orby embossing and printing the sheet of polymeric material to provideembossed and printed patterns wherein the embossed and printed patternsmay be in registry, out of registry or wherein a portion of the embossedand printed patterns are in registry and a portion of the embossed andprinted patterns are out of registry. In addition, a matte or texturedfinish capable of providing the sheet of polymeric material with acloth-like appearance can be achieved by extruding a polymeric resinonto a matted or textured chill roll. Thereafter, the web of materialhaving a cloth-like appearance can be cut in a conventional manner toprovide the polymeric ribbon material 210 having a cloth-likeappearance.

[0088] Any polymeric material capable of being textured or otherwisemodified to provide the polymeric material with a cloth-like appearancecan be employed in the formulation of the polymeric ribbon material 210.For example, the polymeric material employed to produce the polymericribbon material 210 can be polypropylene film having a thickness of fromabout 0.1 mil to about 30 mils, and more desirably of from about 0.5mils to about 2.5 mils, or an expanded core polymeric film having athickness of from about 0.6 to about 10 mils.

[0089] Referring now to FIG. 20B, designated generally by the referencenumeral 220 is another embodiment of a polymeric ribbon material forforming decorative bows and for wrapping items. The polymeric ribbonmaterial comprises an expanded core polymeric film 222 having athickness of from about 0.6 to about 10 mils and a polymeric film 224having a thickness of from about 0.6 to about 10 mils. The polymericfilm 224 is desirably laminated to the expanded core polymeric film 222with a colored adhesive so as to impart a desired color to the polymericribbon material 220 material. If desired the polymeric ribbon material220 may be treated or otherwise processed to provide the polymericribbon material 220 with a matte or textured finish simulating the weaveor knit of cloth so that the polymeric ribbon material has a cloth likeappearance similar to the polymeric ribbon material 210 hereinbeforedescribed with reference to FIG. 20A. That is, a matte or texturedfinish simulating cloth can be printed on the expanded core polymericfilm 222 and thereafter the polymeric film 224

[0090] (which in this case is desirably a matte material of translucentpolymeric film) is laminated to the expanded core polymeric film 222 toprovide the polymeric ribbon material with a cloth-like appearance. Tofurther enhance the cloth-like appearance of the polymeric ribbonmaterial 220, the polymeric film 224 may or may not have a plurality ofspatially disposed holes extending therethrough. The matte or texturedfinish 212 can be produced by printing the polymeric film 224 laminatedto the expanded core polymeric film 222 with a matted (i.e. dull finish)ink, by lacquering at least one surface of the polymeric film with adull finish lacquer or a matting lacquer, by flocking the sheet ofpolymeric material, by application of a foamable lacquer or foamable inkto the sheet of polymeric material, by embossing the polymeric film toprovide an embossed pattern simulating the weave or texture of cloth, orby embossing and printing the polymeric film to provide embossed andprinted patterns wherein the embossed and printed patterns may be inregistry, out of registry or wherein a portion of the embossed andprinted patterns are in registry and a portion of the embossed andprinted patterns are out of registry. In addition, a matte or texturedfinish capable a providing the polymeric ribbon material with acloth-like appearance can be achieved by extruding the resin used toproduce the expanded core polymeric film 222 and\or the resin used toproduce the polymeric film 224 onto a matted or textured chill roll.

[0091] Referring now to FIG. 20C, designated generally by the referencenumeral 230 is another embodiment of a polymeric ribbon material forforming decorative bows and for wrapping items. The polymeric ribbonmaterial 230 comprises a polymeric film 232 having an upper surface 234,a lower surface 236 and a thickness in the range of from about 0.6 toabout 10 mils. An acrylic heat sealable lacquer 238 is applied to atleast one of the upper and lower surfaces of the polymeric film 232,such as the lower surface 236 of the polymeric film 232 and the uppersurface 234 of the polymeric film 232 is desirably modified to providethe polymeric ribbon material with a matte or textured finish simulatingthe appearance of cloth. The modification of the polymeric film 232 toprovide the polymeric ribbon material 230 with a cloth-like appearancecan be accomplished in several ways. For example, the polymeric ribbonmaterial 230 having the matte or textured finish can be produced byprinting a web of polymeric material with a matted (i.e. dull finish)ink, by lacquering at least one surface of the sheet of polymericmaterial with a dull finish lacquer or a matting lacquer, by flockingthe sheet of polymeric material, by application of a foamable lacquer orfoamable ink to the sheet of polymeric material, by embossing the sheetof polymeric material to provide an embossed pattern simulating theweave or texture of cloth, or by embossing and printing the sheet ofpolymeric material to provide embossed and printed patterns wherein theembossed and printed patterns may be in registry, out of registry orwherein a portion of the embossed and printed patterns are in registryand a portion of the embossed and printed patterns are out of registry.In addition, a matte or textured finish capable of providing the sheetof polymeric material with a cloth-like appearance can be achieved byextruding a polymeric resin onto a matted or textured chill roll.Thereafter, the web of material having a cloth-like appearance can becut in a conventional manner to provide the polymeric film 232.

[0092] Any polymeric film capable of being textured or otherwisemodified to provide the polymeric material with a cloth-like appearancecan be employed in the formulation of the polymeric ribbon material 230.For example, the polymeric film 232 employed to produce the polymericribbon material 210 can be polypropylene film having a thickness of fromabout 0.1 mil to about 30 mils, and more desirably of from about 0.5mils to about 2.5 mils, or an expanded core polymeric film having athickness of from about 0.6 to about 10 mils.

[0093] Changes may be made in the construction and the operation of thevarious components, elements and assemblies described herein or in thesteps or the sequence of steps of the methods described herein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in thefollowing claims.

What is claimed:
 1. A flexible material capable of being formed into ashape-sustaining flower pot cover, comprising: an expanded corepolymeric film having an upper surface, a lower surface and a thicknessin the range of from about 0.6 to about 10 mils; and an acrylic heatsealable lacquer disposed on at least one of the upper and lowersurfaces of the expanded core polymeric film whereby, upon forming theflexible material into a flower pot cover, a plurality of overlappingfolds are formed and at least portion of the overlapping folds areconnected to adjacently disposed portions of the flower pot cover viathe acrylic heat sealable lacquer.
 2. The flexible material capable ofbeing formed into a shape-sustaining flower pot cover of claim 1 whereinat least the lower surface of the expanded core polymeric film isprovided with a cloth-appearing textured or matte finish.
 3. Theflexible material capable of being formed into a shape-sustaining flowerpot cover of claim 2 wherein the expanded core polymeric film furthercontains printed and embossed materials, designs and combinationsthereof.
 4. The flexible material capable of being formed into ashape-sustaining flower pot cover of claim 3 wherein the printed andembossed materials, designs and combinations thereof provided on theexpanded core polymeric material are in registry with one another. 5.The flexible material capable of being formed into a shape-sustainingflower pot cover of claim 3 wherein the printed and embossed materials,designs and combinations thereof provided on the expanded core polymericmaterial are out of registry with one another.
 6. A flexible materialcapable of being formed into a shape-sustaining flower pot cover,comprising: an expanded core polymeric film having a thickness in therange of from about 0.6 mil to about 10 mils; and a substantially waterimpervious polymeric film laminated to the expanded core polymeric film,the substantially water impervious polymeric film having a thickness inthe range of from about 0.6 mil to about 10 mils.
 7. The flexiblematerial capable of being formed into a shape-sustaining flower potcover of claim 6 wherein at least the lower surface of the expanded corepolymeric film is provided with a cloth-appearing textured or mattefinish.
 8. The flexible material capable of being formed into ashape-sustaining flower pot cover of claim 7 wherein the expanded corepolymeric film further contains printed and embossed materials, designsand combinations thereof.
 9. The flexible material capable of beingformed into a shape-sustaining flower pot cover of claim 8 wherein theprinted and embossed materials, designs and combinations thereofprovided on the expanded core polymeric material are in registry withone another.
 10. The flexible material capable of being formed into ashape-sustaining flower pot cover of claim 8 wherein the printed andembossed materials, designs and combinations thereof provided on theexpanded core polymeric material are out of registry with one another.11. The flexible material capable of being formed into ashape-sustaining flower pot cover of claim 8 wherein the expanded corepolymeric film and the substantially water impervious polymeric film arelaminated with a colored adhesive.
 12. The flexible material capable ofbeing formed into a shape-sustaining flower pot cover of claim 6 whereinat least on of the upper and lower surfaces of the expanded corepolymeric film is printed, embossed or printed and embossed to providethe expanded core polymeric film with a cloth-like appearance.
 13. Theflexible material capable of being formed into a shape-sustaining flowerpot cover of claim 12 wherein the expanded core polymeric film and thesubstantially water impervious polymeric film are laminated with acolored adhesive.
 14. The flexible material capable of being formed intoa shape-sustaining flower pot cover of claim 13 wherein the expandedcore polymeric film has a thickness in the range of from about 0.6 milto about 1.25 mils and the substantially water impervious polymeric filmlaminated to the expanded core polymeric film has a thickness in therange of from about 0.6 mil to about 1.25 mils.
 15. The flexiblematerial capable of being formed into a shape-sustaining flower potcover of claim 12 wherein the expanded core polymeric film has athickness in the range of from about 0.6 mil to about 1.25 mils, thesubstantially water impervious polymeric film laminated to the expandedcore polymeric film has a thickness in the range of from about 0.6 milto about 1.25 mils.
 16. A flexible material capable of being formed intoa shape-sustaining flower pot cover, comprising: a sheet of materialformed of an expanded core polymeric film having a thickness in therange of from about 0.6 to about 10 mils, the sheet of material havingan upper surface and a lower surface wherein at least the surface of theexpanded polymeric film is embossed, printed or embossed and printed toprovide the lower surface with a matte finish simulating the appearanceof cloth; and a substantially water impervious polymeric film laminatedto the expanded core polymeric film, the substantially water imperviouspolymeric film having a thickness in the range of from about 0.6 toabout 10 mils.
 17. The flexible material of claim 16 wherein theexpanded core polymeric film and the substantially water imperviouspolymeric film are laminated with a colored adhesive.
 18. The flexiblematerial of claim 17 wherein the expanded core polymeric film has athickness in the range of from about 0.6 to about 1.25 mils, thesubstantially water impervious polymeric film laminated to the expandedcore polymeric film has a thickness in the range of from about 0.6 milto about 1.25 mils and the flexible waterproof material has a thicknessin the range of from about 1.5 mil to about 2.5 mils.
 19. The flexiblematerial of claim 16 wherein the expanded core polymeric film having athickness in the range of from about 0.6 mil to about 1.25 mils, thesubstantially water impervious polymeric film laminated to the expandedcore polymeric film has a thickness in the range of from about 0.6 milto about 1.25 mils.
 20. A flexible material capable of being formed intoa decorative cover about a flower pot or a floral grouping comprising: asheet of material formed of an expanded core polymeric film having athickness in the range of from about 0.1 to about 30 mils, the sheet ofmaterial having an upper surface and a lower surface wherein at leastthe lower surface of the expanded polymeric film is embossed, printed,embossed and printed or textured to provide the lower surface with acloth-like appearance; and a bonding material disposed on at least aportion of the upper surface of the sheet of material.
 21. The flexiblematerial capable of being formed into a decorative cover about a flowerpot or a floral grouping of claim 20 wherein the bonding material is apressure sensitive adhesive.
 22. The flexible material capable of beingformed into a decorative cover about a flower pot or a floral groupingof claim 21 wherein sheet of material is further characterized as havinga first side, a second side, a third side and a fourth side, and whereinthe pressure sensitive adhesive is disposed on a portion of the uppersurface of the sheet of material substantially adjacent the fourth sideof the sheet of material so as to extend substantially between the firstand second sides of the sheet of material.
 23. A flexible materialcapable of being formed into a decorative cover about flower pot or afloral grouping, comprising: an expanded core polymeric film having anupper surface, a lower surface and a thickness in the range of fromabout 0.6 mil to about 10 mils; and a substantially water imperviouspolymeric film laminated to the expanded core polymeric film, thesubstantially water impervious polymeric film having a thickness in therange of from about 0.6 mil to about 10 mils.
 24. The flexible materialof claim 23 wherein the expanded core polymeric film and thesubstantially water impervious polymeric film are laminated with acolored adhesive.
 25. The flexible material of claim 24 wherein theexpanded core polymeric film has a thickness in the range of from about0.6 mil to about 1.25 mils and the substantially water imperviouspolymeric film laminated to the expanded core polymeric film has athickness in the range of from about 0.6 to about 1.25 mils.
 26. Theflexible material of claim 23 wherein the expanded core polymeric filmhas a thickness in the range of from about 0.6 mil to about 1.25 mils,the substantially water impervious polymeric film laminated to theexpanded core polymeric film has a thickness in the range of from about0.6 mil to about 1.25 mils.
 27. The flexible material of claim 23wherein at least one of the expanded core polymeric film and thesubstantially water impervious polymeric film is provided with anembossed pattern, a printed pattern or an embossed and printed pattern.28. The flexible material capable of being formed into ashape-sustaining flower pot cover of claim 23 wherein at least one ofthe expanded core polymeric film and the substantially water imperviouspolymeric film is provided with an embossed pattern and a printedpattern.
 29. The flexible material capable of being formed into ashape-sustaining flower pot cover of claim 28 wherein the embossed andprinted patterns are in registry with one another.
 30. The flexiblematerial capable of being formed into a shape-sustaining flower potcover of claim 28 wherein the embossed and printed patterns are out ofregistry with one another.
 31. The flexible material capable of beingformed into a shape-sustaining flower pot cover of claim 28 wherein theexpanded core polymeric film and the substantially water imperviouspolymeric film are laminated with a colored adhesive.
 32. A polymericribbon material for forming decorative bows and for wrapping items, theribbon material comprising: an expanded core polymeric film having anupper surface, a lower surface and a thickness in the range of about 0.6mil to about 10 mils wherein at least one of the upper and lowersurfaces of the expanded core polymeric film is modified to provide thepolymeric ribbon material with a cloth-like appearance.
 33. Thepolymeric ribbon material for forming decorative bows and for wrappingitems of claim 18 wherein the expanded core polymeric film furthercontains printed and embossed materials, designs and combinationsthereof.
 34. The polymeric ribbon material for forming decorative bowsand for wrapping items of claim 33 wherein the printed and embossedmaterials, designs and combinations thereof provided on the expandedcore polymeric material are in registry with one another.
 35. Thepolymeric ribbon material for forming decorative bows and for wrappingitems of claim 33 wherein the printed and embossed materials, designsand combinations thereof provided on the expanded core polymericmaterial are out of registry with one another.
 36. A polymeric ribbonmaterial having a cloth-like appearance comprising: an expanded corepolymeric film having an upper surface, a lower surface and a thicknessin the range of about 0.6 mil to about 10 mils; and a sheet of materiallaminated to at least one of the upper and the lower surface of theexpanded core polymeric film, at least one of the expanded corepolymeric film and the sheet of material having a cloth-like appearancesuch that the polymeric ribbon is provided with a cloth-like appearance.37. The polymeric ribbon material having a cloth-like appearance ofclaim 36 wherein the sheet of material laminated to the expanded corepolymeric film is a polymeric film having a thickness in the range offrom about 0.6 mil to about 10 mils.
 38. The polymeric ribbon materialhaving a cloth-like appearance of claim 36 wherein the expanded corepolymeric film and the polymeric film are laminated with a coloredadhesive.
 39. The polymeric ribbon material having a cloth-likeappearance of claim 38 wherein the expanded core polymeric film has athickness in the range of from about 0.6 mil to about 1.25 mils and thepolymeric film laminated to the expanded core polymeric film has athickness in the range of from about 0.6 mil to about 1.25 mils.
 40. Thepolymeric ribbon material having a cloth-like appearance of claim 36wherein the sheet of material laminated to the expanded core polymericfilm is a polymeric film having a thickness in the range of from about0.6 mil to about 1.25 mils and wherein the expanded core polymeric filmhas a thickness in the range of from about 0.6 mil to about 1.25 mils.41. The polymeric ribbon material having a cloth-like appearance ofclaim 36 wherein at least on of the expanded core polymeric film and thesheet of material laminated thereto further contains printed andembossed materials, designs and combinations thereof.
 42. The polymericribbon material having a cloth-like appearance of claim 41 wherein theprinted and embossed materials, designs and combinations thereof are inregistry with one another.
 43. The polymeric ribbon material having acloth-like appearance of claim 41 wherein the printed and embossedmaterials, designs and combinations thereof are out of registry with oneanother.
 44. A polymeric ribbon material having a cloth-like appearancefor forming decorative bows and for wrapping items, the ribbon materialcomprising: an expanded core polymeric film having an upper surface, alower surface and a thickness in the range of about 0.6 to about 10 milswherein at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the expandedcore polymeric film is printed to provide the polymeric ribbon materialwith a cloth-like appearance.
 45. A polymeric ribbon material having acloth-like appearance for forming decorative bows and for wrappingitems, the ribbon material comprising: an expanded core polymeric filmhaving an upper surface and a lower surface mils wherein at least one ofthe upper and lower surfaces of the expanded core polymeric film isprovided with an embossed pattern to provide the polymeric ribbonmaterial with a cloth-like appearance.
 46. The polymeric ribbon materialof claim 45 wherein the expanded core polymeric film has a thickness inthe range of from about 0.6 to about 10 mils.
 47. The polymeric ribbonmaterial of claim 46 wherein the embossed ribbon material is furtherprovided with a printed pattern.
 48. The polymeric ribbon material ofclaim 47 wherein the printed pattern and the embossed pattern are inregister with one another.
 49. The polymeric ribbon material of claim 47wherein at least of portion of the printed pattern and the embossedpattern are out of register with one another.
 50. The polymeric ribbonmaterial of claim 47 wherein at least a portion of the printed patternand the embossed pattern are out of register with one another.
 51. Apolymeric ribbon material having a cloth-like appearance comprising: apolymeric film having an upper surface, a lower surface and a thicknessin the range of about from 0.6 mil to about 10 mils; and a sheet ofmaterial having a cloth-like texture laminated to at least one of theupper and the lower surface of the polymeric film wherein the sheet ofmaterial having a cloth-like texture is provided with a thickness in therange of from about 0.6 mil to about 10 mils.
 52. A flexible materialcapable of being formed into a decorative sleeve for positioning aboutat least a portion of a flower pot or a floral grouping comprising: asheet of material formed of an expanded core polymeric film having athickness in the range of from about 0.6 to about 10 mils, the sheet ofmaterial having an upper surface and a lower surface wherein at leastthe lower surface of the expanded polymeric film is embossed, printed orembossed and printed to provide the lower surface with a cloth-likeappearance.
 53. A flexible material capable of being formed into adecorative sleeve for positioning about at least a portion of a flowerpot or a floral grouping, comprising: an expanded core polymeric filmhaving an upper surface, a lower surface and a thickness in the range offrom about 0.6 mil to about 10 mils; and a substantially waterimpervious polymeric film laminated to the expanded core polymeric film,the substantially water impervious polymeric film having a thickness inthe range of from about 0.6 mil to about 10 mils.
 54. The flexiblematerial capable of being formed into a decorative sleeve forpositioning about at least a portion of a flower pot or a floralgrouping of claim 53 wherein the expanded core polymeric film and thesubstantially water impervious polymeric film are laminated with acolored adhesive.
 55. The flexible material capable of being formed intoa decorative sleeve for positioning about at least a portion of a flowerpot or a floral grouping of claim 54 wherein the expanded core polymericfilm has a thickness in the range of from about 0.6 mil to about 1.25mils and the substantially water impervious polymeric film laminated tothe expanded core polymeric film has a thickness in the range of fromabout 0.6 to about 1.25 mils.
 56. The flexible material capable of beingformed into a decorative sleeve for positioning about at least a portionof a flower pot or a floral grouping of claim 53 wherein the expandedcore polymeric film has a thickness in the range of from about 0.6 milto about 1.25 mils, the substantially water impervious polymeric filmlaminated to the expanded core polymeric film has a thickness in therange of from about 0.6 mil to about 1.25 mils.
 57. A flexible materialcapable of being formed into a decorative sleeve for positioning aboutat least a portion of a flower pot or a floral grouping, comprising: anexpanded core polymeric film having an upper surface, a lower surfaceand a thickness in the range of about 0.6 mil to about 10 mils whereinat least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the expanded corepolymeric film is modified to provide the flexible material with acloth-like appearance.
 58. The flexible material capable of being formedinto a decorative sleeve for positioning about at least a portion of aflower pot or a floral grouping of claim 57 wherein the expanded corepolymeric film further contains printed and embossed materials, designsand combinations thereof.
 59. The flexible material capable of beingformed into a decorative sleeve for positioning about at least a portionof a flower pot or a floral grouping of claim 58 wherein the printed andembossed materials, designs and combinations thereof provided on theexpanded core polymeric material are in registry with one another. 60.The flexible material capable of being formed into a decorative sleevefor positioning about at least a portion of a flower pot or a floralgrouping of claim 58 wherein the printed and embossed materials, designsand combinations thereof provided on the expanded core polymericmaterial are out of registry with one another.
 61. The flexible materialcapable of being formed into a decorative sleeve for positioning aboutat least a portion of a flower pot or a floral grouping of claim 58wherein at least a portion of the printed and embossed materials,designs and combinations thereof provided on the expanded core polymericmaterial are out of registry with one another.
 62. A flexible materialformable into a shape-sustaining flower pot cover, a decorative coverfor a flower pot or a floral grouping, or a sleeve disposable about atleast a portion of a floral grouping, comprising: an expanded corepolymeric film having an upper surface, a lower surface and acloth-appearing textured or matte finish on at least one of the upperand lower surfaces thereof.
 63. The flexible material of claim 62wherein the expanded core polymeric film is provided with a thickness inthe range of from about 0.6 mil to about 10 mils and wherein theexpanded core polymeric film is further provided with printed andembossed materials, designs and combinations thereof on at least one ofthe upper and lower surfaces thereof.
 64. The flexible material of claim63 wherein the printed and embossed materials, designs and combinationsthereof provided on the expanded core polymeric material are in registrywith one another.
 65. The flexible material of claim 63 wherein theprinted and embossed materials, designs and combinations thereofprovided on the expanded core polymeric material are out of registrywith one another.
 66. The flexible material of claim 63 wherein aportion of the printed and embossed materials, designs and combinationsthereof provided on the expanded core polymeric material are in registrywith one another and wherein a portion of the printed and embossedmaterials, designs and combinations thereof provided on the expandedcore polymeric material are out of registry with one another.
 67. Theflexible material of claim 63 wherein the cloth-appearing textured ormatte finish of the expanded core polymeric film is produced byprinting, embossing, or printing and embossing the expanded corepolymeric film.
 68. A flexible material, comprising: an expanded corepolymeric film having an upper surface, a lower surface and a thicknessin the range of from about 0.6 to about 10 mils wherein at least thelower surface is provided with a cloth-appearing textured or mattefinish; and an acrylic heat sealable lacquer disposed on at least one ofthe upper and lower surfaces of the expanded core polymeric film. 69.The flexible material capable of claim 68 wherein the expanded corepolymeric film further contains printed and embossed materials, designsand combinations thereof.
 70. The flexible material capable of claim 69wherein the printed and embossed materials, designs and combinationsthereof provided on the expanded core polymeric material are in registrywith one another.
 71. The flexible material capable of being formed intoa shape-sustaining flower pot cover of claim 70 wherein the printed andembossed materials, designs and combinations thereof provided on theexpanded core polymeric material are out of registry with one another.72. A flexible material, comprising: an expanded core polymeric filmhaving a thickness in the range of from about 0.6 to about 10 mils; anda substantially water impervious polymeric film laminated to theexpanded core polymeric film, the substantially water imperviouspolymeric film having a thickness in the range of from about 0.6 toabout 10 mils.
 73. The flexible material of claim 72 wherein at leastthe lower surface of the expanded core polymeric film is provided with acloth-appearing textured or matte finish.
 74. The flexible material ofclaim 73 wherein the expanded core polymeric film further containsprinted and embossed materials, designs and combinations thereof. 75.The flexible material of claim 74 wherein the printed and embossedmaterials, designs and combinations thereof provided on the expandedcore polymeric material are in registry with one another.
 76. Theflexible material of claim 74 wherein the printed and embossedmaterials, designs and combinations thereof provided on the expandedcore polymeric material are out of registry with one another.
 77. Theflexible material of claim 74 wherein the expanded core polymeric filmand the substantially water impervious polymeric film are laminated witha colored adhesive.
 78. The flexible material of claim 72 wherein atleast a lower surface of the expanded core polymeric film is printed,embossed or printed and embossed to provide the expanded core polymericfilm with a cloth-like appearance.
 79. The flexible material of claim 78wherein the expanded core polymeric film and the substantially waterimpervious polymeric film are laminated with a colored adhesive.
 80. Theflexible material of claim 79 wherein the expanded core polymeric filmhas a thickness in the range of from about 0.6 mil to about 1.25 milsand the substantially water impervious polymeric film laminated to theexpanded core polymeric film has a thickness in the range of from about0.6 to about 1.25 mils.
 81. The flexible material of claim 73 whereinthe expanded core polymeric film has a thickness in the range of fromabout 0.6 mil to about 1.25 mils, the substantially water imperviouspolymeric film laminated to the expanded core polymeric film has athickness in the range of from about 0.6 mil to about 1.25 mils.
 82. Aflexible material, comprising: a sheet of material formed of an expandedcore polymeric film having a thickness in the range of from about 0.6 toabout 10 mils, the sheet of material having an upper surface and a lowersurface wherein at least the surface of the expanded polymeric film isembossed, printed or embossed and printed to provide the lower surfacewith a matte finish simulating the appearance of cloth; and asubstantially water impervious polymeric film laminated to the expandedcore polymeric film, the substantially water impervious polymeric filmhaving a thickness in the range of from about 0.6 to about 10 mils. 83.The flexible material of claim 82 wherein the expanded core polymericfilm and the substantially water impervious polymeric film are laminatedwith a colored adhesive.
 84. The flexible material of claim 83 whereinthe expanded core polymeric film having a thickness in the range of fromabout 0.6 to about 1.25 mils, the substantially water imperviouspolymeric film laminated to the expanded core polymeric film has athickness in the range of from about 0.6 mil to about 1.25 mils and theflexible waterproof material has a thickness in the range of from about1.5 mil to about 2.5 mils.
 85. A flexible material comprising: a sheetof material formed of an expanded core polymeric film having a thicknessin the range of from about 0.6 mil to about 10 mils, the sheet ofmaterial having an upper surface and a lower surface wherein at leastthe lower surface of the expanded polymeric film is embossed, printed,embossed and printed or textured to provide the lower surface with acloth-like appearance; and a bonding material disposed on at least aportion of the upper surface of the sheet of material.
 86. The flexiblematerial of claim 85 wherein the bonding material is a pressuresensitive adhesive.
 87. The flexible material of claim 86 wherein sheetof material is further characterized as having a first side, a secondside, a third side and a fourth side, and wherein the pressure sensitiveadhesive is disposed on a portion of the upper surface of the sheet ofmaterial substantially adjacent the fourth side of the sheet of materialso as to extend substantially between the first and second sides of thesheet of material.
 88. A flexible material having an upper surface and alower surface, comprising: an expanded core polymeric film having anupper surface, a lower surface and a thickness in the range of fromabout 0.6 mil to about 10 mils wherein at least one of the upper andlower surfaces of the expanded polymeric film is embossed, printed,embossed and printed or textured to provide the expanded core polymericfilm with a cloth-like appearance; a substantially water imperviouspolymeric film laminated to the upper surface of the expanded corepolymeric film, the substantially water impervious polymeric film havinga thickness in the range of from about 0.6 mil to about 10 mils; and abonding material disposed on at least a portion of one of the uppersurface and lower surfaces of the flexible material.
 89. The flexiblematerial of claim 88 wherein the expanded core polymeric film and thesubstantially water impervious polymeric film are laminated with acolored adhesive.
 90. The flexible material of claim 89 wherein theexpanded core polymeric film has a thickness in the range of from about0.6 mil to about 1.25 mils and the substantially water imperviouspolymeric film laminated to the expanded core polymeric film has athickness in the range of from about 0.6 to about 1.25 mils.